Lower North Shore (Sydney): Difference between revisions
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The region's largest CBD, ''North Sydney'', is home to a beautiful and modern urban skyline governed by a pleasently conservative municipality. Although North Sydney has none of Sydney's major shopping centers, it is home to scores of specialty stores and has an abundance of Cafès. Lower Northern Sydney's three tallest buildings are located in the North Sydney CBD; Optus Tower, Berry Square and Northpoint Tower. |
The region's largest CBD, ''North Sydney'', is home to a beautiful and modern urban skyline governed by a pleasently conservative municipality. Although North Sydney has none of Sydney's major shopping centers, it is home to scores of specialty stores and has an abundance of Cafès. Lower Northern Sydney's three tallest buildings are located in the North Sydney CBD; Optus Tower, Berry Square and Northpoint Tower. |
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North Ryde is undisputedly Australia's hi-tech |
North Ryde is undisputedly Australia's hi-tech hub and is home to scores of international corporations including [[Microsoft]], [[Boeing]], [[Fujitsu]], [[HP]], [[Avaya]] and [[Optus]] just to name a few. North Ryde also has the Ryde-Hunters Hill Equestrian Club, a quality golf course, an [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] [[hockey]] venue, the [[Macquarie University]] and [[Macquarie Centre]]. |
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Chatswood is sometimes described as the city in the hilltops and is the shopping heart of Northern Sydney with a cosmopolitan and vivacious city atmosphere. Chatswood's town center is usually bustling with people, whether they're going to work, going shopping, or going for a cappuccino. The busiest of the region's main centers, Chatswood is home to many apartment towers, perhaps the most prominent being The Sebel. |
Chatswood is sometimes described as the city in the hilltops and is the shopping heart of Northern Sydney with a cosmopolitan and vivacious city atmosphere. Chatswood's town center is usually bustling with people, whether they're going to work, going shopping, or going for a cappuccino. The busiest of the region's main centers, Chatswood is home to many apartment towers, perhaps the most prominent being The Sebel. |
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==Regional traditions== |
==Regional traditions== |
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Revision as of 06:08, 26 October 2005
The Lower North Shore of Sydney is an informal region of Sydney and is arguably the most prestigious in Australia. The region encompasses the local government areas of Hunter's Hill, Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Ryde and Willoughby.
Geography and demographics
Lower Northern Sydney has a population of approximately 250,000 people (around 5% of Sydney). The region is over 80 square kilometers (20,000 acres) in area and encompasses all of the North Shore's northern shore of Sydney Harbour stretching from the Ryde Bridge (Ryde) in the west to Middle Head (Mosman) in the east. Lower Northern Sydney is ranked first in Australia's socioeconomic ladder, very closely followed by the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney). The most affluent of the region's areas include Hunter's Hill, Mosman, Kirribilli and Longueville.
The region is home to hundreds of parks and reserves, the main two being the Sydney Harbour National Park and the Lane Cove National Park. Local sportsgrounds include North Sydney Oval, the region's largest in capacity, followed by TG Millner in Marsfield, Chatswood Oval and Christie Park, joint home of the Northern Spirit FC in North Ryde.
Major waterways in the region include Sydney Harbour, the Lane Cove River, the Parramatta River, Middle Harbour and the many creek systems that branch out from these main aquatic lifelines. Besides its people, the water is the most characteristic feature of the region, giving Lower Northern Sydney its unique character and evident affluence.
History
Before European settlement, the Lower North Shore was home to the Gorualgal (Mosman & Southern Willoughby), Cammeraygal (North Sydney & Eastern Lane Cove) and Wallumettagal (Ryde-Hunters Hill & Western Lane Cove) tribes. The first settlement on the North Shore and in fact the third-earliest in Australia (behind Sydney and Parramatta) was at Ryde; then known by the Aboriginal name Wallumetta. Long before the establishment of Sydney-style local government, Lower Northern Sydney was divided into parishes.
The six local governments that stand today were derived from two: the Parish of Willoughby and the Parish of Hunters Hill (Kissing Point). From Hunters Hill came the modern-day Municipality of Hunters Hill and the Municipality of Ryde (now the City of Ryde). From the Parish of Willoughby came the Municipality of Willoughby (now the City of Willoughby) and the municipalities of Mosman, Lane Cove and North Sydney. North Sydney was formerly known as St. Leonards and at one time the entire North Shore went by the name of "Huntershill".
For a while in the 80's and 90's, most of Lower Northern Sydney was not as wealthy as it is today. Fibro houses were not uncommon in the region's western half and there was a short-lived period where gang activity was evident in Ryde (Armenian gangs), Chatswood (Triads), and (Anglo-Australian gangs) in several areas. Today however, crime in the region is very low and gang activity is almost dead with focus moving more towards the south western suburbs.
As Sydney grew, areas such as North Ryde and Lane Cove began to be more costly to move into. Lower Northern Sydney's real success stories however lie at the water's edge as suburbs to the likes of Tennyson Point, Cremorne Point, Balmoral, Woolwich, Longueville, Castle Cove and McMahons Point skyrocketted in price.
Local landmarks
Lower Northern Sydney has many unique landmarks, on an international level these include: The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Taronga Zoo in Mosman, Kirribilli House (Residence of the Prime Minister of Australia), Luna Park, Balmoral Beach and the Macquarie University. At a Sydney or local level however, landmarks are more plentiful and include: The Lane Cove Azalea Beds, the Ryde Civic Plaza, Blues Point Tower, Eden Gardens, the Balmoral Rotunda, Brush Farm House in Eastwood, the Gladesville and Ryde Bridges, the Stanton Library in North Sydney, Lane Cove Mall, Zenith Towers at Chatswood, Microsoft Australian HQ in North Ryde, Northpoint (Hyundai) Tower in North Sydney, Northbridge suspension bridge at Northbridge, the Royal North Shore and Ryde Hospitals, the 'Forum' in St Leonards, Macquarie Centre & Ice Skating Rink, Curzon Hall in Marsfield and North Sydney Oval.
Landmark Churches and Cathedrals in the area include St. Mary's in North Sydney, St. Annes in Top Ryde (Australia's 3rd oldest), Cliffton Gardens in Mosman, Christ's Church in Lavendar Bay, the Gladesville-Macquarie Chapel, St. Pauls in Chatswood and St. Andrews in Eastwood.
Lower Northern Sydney's role in Global Sydney
"Global Sydney" or the "Sydney Global Corridor", is often used to describe a geographical 'arch' of Sydney home to international corporations and interests. Lower Northern Sydney has three large commercial centers located at North Sydney, North Ryde and Chatswood and it is because of these three of the region's areas that Lower Northern Sydney is an important part of Global Sydney.
The region's largest CBD, North Sydney, is home to a beautiful and modern urban skyline governed by a pleasently conservative municipality. Although North Sydney has none of Sydney's major shopping centers, it is home to scores of specialty stores and has an abundance of Cafès. Lower Northern Sydney's three tallest buildings are located in the North Sydney CBD; Optus Tower, Berry Square and Northpoint Tower.
North Ryde is undisputedly Australia's hi-tech hub and is home to scores of international corporations including Microsoft, Boeing, Fujitsu, HP, Avaya and Optus just to name a few. North Ryde also has the Ryde-Hunters Hill Equestrian Club, a quality golf course, an Olympic hockey venue, the Macquarie University and Macquarie Centre.
Chatswood is sometimes described as the city in the hilltops and is the shopping heart of Northern Sydney with a cosmopolitan and vivacious city atmosphere. Chatswood's town center is usually bustling with people, whether they're going to work, going shopping, or going for a cappuccino. The busiest of the region's main centers, Chatswood is home to many apartment towers, perhaps the most prominent being The Sebel.
Regional traditions
Lower Northern Sydney's largest annual event is the Granny Smith Festival held in the suburb of Eastwood usually in October of each year. The festival's attendence record set in 2004 currently stands at approximately just over 90,000. Many are attracted each year by the live bands, shows, stores, rides, the main street parade down Rowe Street and of course the massive fireworks display in the skies over Eastwood.
The region's second-biggest annual event is the Willoughby Spring Festival held in the suburb of Chatswood usually in September or October of each year. The festival lasts for about a month and includes live music/entertainment, shops, speeches and many community activities & events.
Lower Northern Sydney's other main festivals/events include: Tartan Day at Lane Cove, the Ryde Aquatic Festival & Bridge to Bridge run, the Guringgai Festival honoring northern Sydney's Aboriginals, the Moocooboola Festival at Hunters Hill, the Mosman Festival, Lane Cove's Cammeraygal Festival, Chinese New Year at Chatswood, and the Ryde Summer Festival which mainly includes outdoor cinemas. Mosman, North Sydney, Ryde and Willoughby also hold annual art prizes. All local government areas in the region and around the country celebrate Australia Day, which is the 26th of January.
Famous people
One of Australia's most influential areas, Lower Northern Sydney is home to various famous Australian identities. These include: Prime Minister John Howard, Olympian and Paralympian Louise Sauvage, NSW Deputy Premier and current Transport Minister John Watkins, Australian Federal Minister for Human Services Joe Hockey, Veteran Wallaby (Australian Rugby Union) player Matthew Burke and many more.
Localities of Lower Northern Sydney
Adwill Place, Atarmon, Balmoral, Beauty Point, Blaxlands Corner, Blenheim Road, Blues Point, Boronia Park, Brush Farm, Cammeray, Castle Cove, Castlecrag, Chatswood, Chatswood West, Cliffton Gardens, Cremorne, Cremorne Junction, Cremorne Point, Crows Nest, Denistone, Denistone East, Denistone West, East Ryde, Eastwood, Flat Rock, Fullers Bridge, Georges Heights, Gladesville, Gore Hill, Greenwich, Henley, Hunter's Hill, Hunters Hill West, Huntleys Point, Kirribilli, Kurraba Point, Lane Cove, Lane Cove West, Lavender Bay, Linley Point, Longueville, Macquarie Park, Macquarie University, McMahons Point, Marsfield, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, Middle Cove, Milsons Point, Monash Park, Morrisons Bay, Mosman, Mosman Bay, Naremburn, Neutral Bay, Neutral Bay Junction, North Ryde, North Sydney, Northbridge, Northwood, Osborne Park, Putney, Riverview, Riverside, Roseville, Ryde, Shepherds Bay, Spit Junction, St Leonards, Tarban, Tennyson Point, The Spit, Top Ryde, Waverton, West Ryde, Willoughby, Willoughby North, Wollstonecraft, Woolwich.